Thanks to leaders like Dan Koloski, the Portland campus is thriving as a hub for learning
The head of learning programs started his career in software, but now spends his time helping students launch careers that’ll allow them to grow Maine’s economy.
Dan Koloski never set out to work in higher education.
He began his career in IT and software, spending over 20 years working in technical and business management roles at companies both big and small, including Oracle, where he was the vice president of product management and business development.
In January 2021, Koloski joined Northeastern University as its third faculty member in Portland, Maine. He now serves as a professor of the practice and the head of learning programs at the Roux Institute.
Koloski was drawn to Northeastern’s mission — and saw it as a chance to make a meaningful impact close to home.
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“When I saw the announcement for the Roux Institute, I turned to my wife and I said I’m going to go do that because that’s going to matter here in my home state of Maine,” he said. “The mission of the Roux Institute is to change the economic trajectory of the state of Maine, which I translate to, making it possible for people to do the kind of careers that I had … and live here in this amazing place.”
As head of learning programs, Koloski evaluates everything from Ph.D.s to non-degree courses, working with faculty directors and colleagues on programming and policy decisions to help the Roux achieve its goals of equipping students with the skills to boost Maine’s economy.
“What we’re doing here is essentially building an opportunity engine for the future,” he said. “Every day, we have to try something new. We have to experience it. This is not a maintenance job. This is a building job, much like being in a startup. That requires a startup mentality.”
When he’s not doing that, he teaches in the master’s of analytics program and in Roux’s non-degree courses.
“Teaching is really important to me,” Koloski said. “So I teach as much as I can. I’m not someone who’s going to stop teaching because I’m administrating. The best part of my week is teaching. Our students are amazing and what I teach is a very fun subject. It’s all things to do with analytics, AI, and its applicability to business. The world is changing very rapidly and teaching in technology is always fun.”
When he’s not in the classroom, Koloski is either out on the water or on stage. In addition to sailing his 26-foot boat on the waters of Maine, he is also a jazz musician and plays the bass, guitar, piano and drums in a few combos in town or in the pit of theater productions. (His wife is a theater director and designer and his children are both actors, so he helps with their shows.) He also leads the school’s community choir.